The question that pops up in the mailbox regularly is that why is not the business of dubbed versions not included on the website especially when major Hindi films are dubbed in other in languages. Basically dubbing films is a token gesture and business will be in the 3-5% range of the Hindi version. Even a film collecting 10 crore nett in Hindi can be dubbed and it can do upwards of 25 lakhs nett.

The biggest problem is when dubbed business is included than you have to include films of that language as well to have the correct picture. Then the tax picture comes into play as a film doing a huge proportion of its business in Tamil will be paying much less tax than a predominantly Hindi film so NETT numbers make little sense. This can be explained better by the two charts below. First one is the top ten grossing films in HINDI and then the second one is top ten grossing films in all languages. In the second one some regional films come into play, even the topmost one then becomes a non Hindi release.

Top Ten Grossing Hindi Films NETT

1. Dangal (2016) - 3,74,53,00,000

2. PK (2014) - 3,37,72,50,000

3. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) - 3,15,49,00,000

4. Sultan (2016) - 3,00,67,25,000

5. Dhoom 3 (2013) - 2,60,63,00,000

6. Kick (2014) - 2,11,63,00,000

7. Chennai Express (2013) - 2,07,69,00,000

8. 3 Idiots (2009) - 2,01,37,25,000

9. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) - 1,94,30,50,000

10. Ek Tha Tiger (2012) - 1,86,14,50,000

Top Ten Grossing Films NETT (All Languages)

1. Bahubali (2015) - 4,19,56,00,000

2. Dangal (2016) - 3,87,28,00,000

3. PK (2014) - 3,37,72,50,000

4. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) - 3,15,49,00,000

5. Sultan (2016) - 3,00,67,25,000

6. Dhoom 3 (2103) - 2,71,63,00,000

7. Robot (2010) - 2,13,84,00,000

8. Kick (2014) - 2,11,63,00,000

9. Chennai Express (2013) - 2,07,69,00,000

10. 3 Idiots - 2,01,37,25,000

As can be seen above, the dubbed business changes the rankings totally. Another point to note is when a film is dubbed into another language then that business is not coming from a HINDI film, sometimes even the name is changed.

The figures in GROSS for all languages will change the rankings due to lower taxes for regional films and those are the ones that have to be used when you are not comparing like for like and they will put up tomorrow.

GST (Good and Service Tax) is supposed to be implemented soon and it will probably be one slab across the country which will give fairer playing field but its probable the state governments will give some sort of exemptions to regional films to make tax lower while there will be no relief as usual for Hindi films which always get step motherly treatment from the government. The plus will the highest slab in GST will be a little lower than the present taxes at an all India level.